The newly elected executives of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBF) have paid a courtesy call on the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) to introduce themselves and outline their strategic plans for the next four years.
The visit took place on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the GOC office and was led by GBF President Alex Kukula, accompanied by Vice President Andrew Ayitey Bulley, Treasurer Aurora Commodore-Toppah and Secretary General Rafiq Mohammed Arthur.
Kukula thanked the GOC for its support, guidance and advice during the federation’s elections and outlined plans to strengthen basketball, improve Ghana’s standing in the zone and qualify for more international competitions to give players greater exposure.
“We are grateful to the GOC for your support, guidance and advice during our elections. Our plans are to strengthen the game, improve our standing in the zone and qualify for more tournaments to give our players international exposure. With the right support and collaboration with the GOC and other stakeholders, we believe we can achieve these goals,” he said.
He added that the federation would prioritise the development of technical officials and revive school basketball competitions to strengthen the youth development system.
“Another area we want to develop is officiating. We want our referees to receive the necessary training and secure more international appointments. We also want to revive school basketball competitions to help develop our youth teams and build a strong future for the sport,” Kukula added.
GOC President Richard Kofi Akpokavie welcomed the new executives and expressed the committee’s readiness to work with the federation to achieve its objectives.
“It’s good to meet you and learn about your plans. You have participated in competitions such as the Youth Games in Angola and the school games, including the 3×3 basketball events. It is important that we begin discussions on how we can work together over the next two to four years to help you achieve your targets,” Akpokavie said.
He acknowledged that funding remained a major challenge for sports development in Ghana but encouraged the federation to explore partnerships and fundraising opportunities with the GOC’s support.
“Funding is a major challenge for everyone, and the resources we receive directly from the International Olympic Committee are tied to specific projects. However, we continue to explore ways of raising funds, and by working together with federations, we can use our networks and the GOC’s platform to help attract the support your sport needs,” he stated.
Akpokavie also stressed the importance of building a strong youth development pathway, urging the federation to focus on developing young players rather than seeking immediate results without adequate preparation.
“Sometimes, we focus too much on the medals we want to win without considering the process required to achieve them. We need a clear pathway that continually develops young athletes and prepares them for international competition. Congratulations on your plans, and be assured that the GOC is ready to support you wherever possible,” he added.
As part of the visit, President Alex Kukula presented a hard copy of the federation’s strategic plans to the GOC, outlining its vision for the development of basketball over the next four years.
The meeting marked an important step towards strengthening collaboration between the Ghana Basketball Federation and the Ghana Olympic Committee to advance basketball development in the country.
By: Victoria Kwofie
